Protective housing for electrical devices



C P. VANNlNl PROTECTIVE HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 2e, 1927 Zwll.

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P. VANNlNl FRO'IECTIVE HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Nov. 27, 1928.1,692,875

Filed Feb. ze, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. y

PHILIPP VANNINI, OF ZUG, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LANDIS & GYR .lL-G.,.A

l ALIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF SWITZERLAND.

PROTECTIVE HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES.

Application filed February 26, 1927, Serial No. 171,286, and inSwitzerland March 19, 1'526.

'lhe invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricalinstrument casings, including a protective housing for electricalterminal blocks, and in certain aspects thereof more particularly tosuch housings applied to electricity meters and their terminal blocks.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth. in parthereinafter and in partwill be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention yconsists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and togetherwththedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with parts in section and parts brokenaway, of an cxemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fie. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section, greatly enlarged, taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective, with parts broken away,corresponding to the lower artof Figlgand il ig. 4 is a ner of Fig. 1.

The invention is directed to providing in connection with electricalinstrument casings a protective housing for electrical termin al blockswhich are usually made ofbakelite or composition. The invention has inview the housing and protection of such blocks capacitated to take allthe leads or connections for the particular meter or other instrumentand the line connections therefor. In many of its aspects, however, theinvention isapplicable to and useful wit-li other kinds of blocks andterminal devices.

The invention is further directed to-providing a protective housingstructure for terminal blocks which is especially yadaptable and usefulwith stamped or struck-up meter, or other instrument casings; and incertain of its features relates to an integral structure including suchan instrument casing and terminal block housing. Certain features offragmentary elevation, with parts in section, of the lower right-handcorsuch a combined or commonstructure are also useful with other kindsof casings. y i' As here exemplarily embodied, theV invention comprises,broadly stated, a stamped o1 struck-up sheet metal meter casing with anapertureformed therein through which the terminal block projectspartially into the metery casing,l a protective sheet metal hous-v ingbeing welded or otherwise fixed to the eX- terior of the meter` casingand enclosing the part of the terminal block exterior to the metercasing. The housing has apart p0- sitionable to protect the upperyexterior edge of the terminal block, after it has been insertedy inplace within the housing. Other features of the invention Will beinitially Set fort-h in the following detailed description of thepresent preferred embodiment of the invention.

It will be understood that thev foregoing general description and alsothe appended detailed description are explanatory and exemplary of theinvention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, it is shown applied toan electricity meter. The inven-` tion finds one of its extensive andvaluable applications in connection with meter casings of stamped metal,although it is useful with other kinds of casin'gs.

As embodied, a meter casing 1 is shown having a front Wall 2 and abottom wall 3. An aperture 4 is formed in the bottom part of the frontwall, in which the terminal block lits nicely, and through which itprojects into the meter casing, as best shown in Fig. 2. A lid 5 fitsonto the front opening of the meter casing, and a resilient dust seal 6is provided about the edges lof the opening. The meter casing and lidmay be fastened in any suitable or desired manner.

The protective housing 9 for the terminal block 10, as here eXemplarilyembodied, is of a form especially adapted for use with the stampedandfstrucli-up instrument casing al1 ready described. In this embodimentthe housing comprises a bottom'L 11 andk prefer-l ably two sides'l andl,integral with and extending upwardly from the side edges of the exteriorportions of the housing bottoni plate 11. The inner end of the housingbottom plate extends beneath and in contact with the bottom plate 3 ofthe meter'fcasing. The

inner ends of the side plates 12 and 13 of the housing are shaped at 14and 15 to contact with the side walls of the meter casing. All theseoverlapped edges of the housing are permanently fixed to the metercasing in any suitable manner, as by welding or otherwise.

The terminal block 10 may be slid into position within the protectivehousing, and has a shoulder 21 a-dapted to register against the frontedge of the bottom plate 3 of the meter to properly position theterminal block. The block when so positioned will completely and nicelyfill the aperture 4 in the front of the meter casing, as is best shownfrom Figs. 1 and 2, both along the vertical and top hori- Zontal edgesof the opening. A suitable seal 23 of cement or other proper substancemay be used to effectively close the junction of these parts.

The terminal block is preferably proportioned, however, so that there isa small space 24 between the block and the inside walls of the exteriorwalls of the protective housing. and this serves as a protection to theterminal block from injury in case of dropping' or other accident orrough handling.

The circuit connections on the terminal block may be of any suitable ordesired form so far as concerns the present invention, and will bedescribed only in the most general way. As embodied, there are shownfour openings 29. 30, 31 and 32 in the outer face of the terminal blockto receive the line terminals, and these are connectible with clampingscrews indicated generally byreference numeral 33.

The clamping or Contact screws for the meter terminals, at the inner endof the terminal block, are indicated generally by reference numeral 34.

he terminal block after `it is positioned, partly within the metercasing and partly within the protective housing, is fastened in place bysuitable means such as a screw 35 passing through a part of the interiorend of the block and threaded into the bottom plate 3 of the metercasing. and if desired into the bottom plate 11 of the housing.

Fixed on the central upper face of the block is a eountersunk plate 39,having a central aperture 40, the block being correspondingly apertured,to receive a screw which is used to fasten the meter in position uponthe wall or elsewhere. In the embodied means for fastening the metercasing, the plate 39 is also apertured at 41, and an internallyscrewthreaded opening is formed in the terminal block. A bracket 42 isfixed to the lower part of the meter casing lid 5 and a screw 43projects through an aperture in this bracket and is screw-threaded intothe opening 41. The screw 43 and the bracket 42 will be provided withsealing means in the usual manner.

Means are provided by the invention for protecting the exterior upperedge of the terminal block from injury; and this feature neeaevs isespecially valuable when the terminal block is made from relativelyreadily fracturable material. This protective device is preferablymounted on the housing, and is movable into and out of protectingposition. It is also preferably provided with means which operateautomatically to fasten it in the protectingposition. Asembodiechthisprotecting device comprises a bail-like member, preferablyof sheet metal, having a front reach 5() extendingentirely across theupperfrontportion of the exterior end of the housing, and having twoside reaches 51 and 52, substantially at right angles to the frontreach, and extending along and close to the side walls 12 and 13 of thehousing. rlhis device is preferably connected to the housing, and a'sexemplified, it is pivotally connected thereto as shown at 53 and 54. Itthus has a rocking or bail-like motion, and is swingable upwardly topermit the assembling and disassembling of the terminal block with thestructure, and is swingable `downwardly into protecting position. Thismember has angled top portions 55, which in the side reaches extend overand rest upon the top edges of the side walls 12 and 13 of the housing,and a similar top portion 5G, which extends across above the outer topedge of the terminal block, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The protectingdevice has integral and downwardly-depending portions 57, which in theside members fit closely to the exterior of the side walls of thehousing, and in the front member overhangs and protects the exterior topedge of the terminal block.

Means are provided for automatically fastening` this protecting devicewhen it is moved into protecting position. As em bodied, the side walls12 and 13 of the housing have apertures 61 (Figs. 3 and 4) formedtherein, and the downwardly depending parts 57 of t-he side reaches ofthe protective bail have tongues 62 formed therein, which are bentinwardly. When the bail is swung downwardly into position, these tonguessnap into the corresponding openings. 61, and hold the device firmly inposition. Then an attendant wishes to move the protecting member, a toolor instrument can be inserted and the tongues pried out of the aperturesandr i swung upwardly.

A closure is preferably provided for the top of the external portion ofthe housing, and as shown, it has a top fiat portion 63, and dependentflanges 64 about three sides thereof, and fits snugly over theprotecting member 50. A screw G5 passes through an opening in the lid 63and is screw-threaded into an opening 66 in the plate 39 and theterminal block to hold the lid in position. Screw G5 and the lid 63 areprovided with a seal 67.

From all the foregoing it will be understood that mechanism has beenprovided by niy invention realizing the objects and ad.

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vantages hereinbefore set forth, together with other objects andadxvantagcs; and that changes may be made from the details ofconstruction disclosing Without departing from the principles ot theinvention or sacrificing its chieiil advantages.

That I claim is:

1. An electrical instrument struct-ure including in combination aninstrument casing having an aperture, a terminal block housingl aboutsaid aperture, a terminal block partially Within the instrument casingand partially in the housing and extending through said aperture, amember cooperating With the housing and positioned to protect theexterior edge of the terminal block, and means for au tomaticallyholding said protecting member when so positioned.

2. An electrical instrument structure including in combination aninstrument casing With an aperture therein, a. terminal block projectingpartially into the casing through the aperture, a housing fixed to thecasing for protecting the exterior of the terminal block, a mem ercooperating with the housing and positionable to protect the outer edgevoi' the terminal block7 and a removable cover for the housing forpermitting access to the terminal block Without disturbing theinstrument casing.

3.An electrical instrument struct-ure including in combination aninstrument casing With an aperture therein, a terminal block projectingpartially into the casing through the aperture, a housing iixed to thecasing for protecting the exterior of the terminal block, a removablehousing cover member for permitting access to the terminal block Withoutdisturbing the instrument casing, and a member attached to the housingfor protecting the outer edge of the terminal block and movable tofurther expose the terminal block.

4. An electrical instrument structure including in combination aninstrument casing With an aperture therein, a terminal block projectingpartially into the casing through the aperture. ay housing fixed to thecasing for protecting the exterior of the terminal block, a removablehousing cover member for permit-ting access to the tern'liual blockwithout disturbing the instrument casing, a member attached to thehousing for protecting the outer edge of the terminal block and movableto further expose the terand covering the bottom and ends of the terfminal block, and a member attached to the housing and movable to protectthe edge and top ot' the terminal block not covered by the housine.

6. An electrical instrument structure including in combination aninstrument casing with an aperture therein, a terminal block projectingpartially into the casing through the aperture, a housing' iixed to thecasing and covering the bottom and ends of the terminal block, and a.member pivotally attached to the housing and movable to protect the edgeand top of the terminal block not covered by the housing.

7. A device tor protecting the terminal block ot an electricity meterincluding in combination a terminal block projecting from a` metercasing, a housing fastened to thefmeter cas ing and partially encasingthe terminal block, and a member attached to the housing and movable toprotect an exterior exposed edge of the terminal block.

8. A device for protecting the terminal block of an electricity meterincluding in combination al terminal block projecting from a metercasing, a housing fastened to the meter casing and encasing the ends oithe terminal block, and a flanged L-shaped member pivotally attached tothe end-encas ing portions of the housing and movable to cover theexterior edge of the terminal block.

9. A device for protecting the terminal block of an electricity meterincluding in combination a terminal block projecting from a metercasing, a housing fastened to the meter casing and encasing the endsoithe terminal block, and a anged U-shaped member pivot-ally attached tothe end-encasing portions ot' the housing and movable to cover theexterior edge of the terminal block and means ior autou'iaticallylatching said `member to the housing in covering position.

In testimony whereof. Ifhave signed my name to this specification. 1

PHILIPP VANNINI.

